A Few of My Favorite Things

As we all know with children you have to try and capture every moment when they happen because something cute or funny they do might be nonexistent tomorrow. As they constantly change, grow, and develop new and exciting behaviors emerge! They seem to learn something new every day......

Tennyson has never taken to a pacifier, but thankfully he's found his thumb. What a blessing for those times he wakes up and needs to go back to bed.

(A little out of focus, but you get the idea.)

Our little boy loves to laugh. It doesn't matter if we are making funny faces, funny sounds, pretending to sneeze, or playing with him. And there is nothing more wonderful than the sound of his laughter filling the house!

Apparently Tennyson also loves a good card game, thanks to his Grandpa. What does a baby use instead of money? Toys, I guess.

But most of all Tennyson loves to grab his toes. As these next pictures can attest to it doesn't matter if he is naked or is fully clothed. Grabbing his feet is THE best thing!!

Sanctity of Life

It's hard to believe that Tennyson wasn't even here 6 months ago. I think about how much our lives have changed since his birth. From the moment he arrived there was only love. Constant, unconditional, immeasurable love. I don't pretend there haven't been times that I desperately wanted sleep more than to gaze in the face of my precious infant. But there is always overwhelming love for our son. Yes, even when we would look at him and say, "I have no idea why you're crying." And then do what all mature parents do.....beg and plead with him to stop.

Tennyson continues to amaze us everyday. He started rolling over at 9 weeks and hasn't slowed down since. His pediatrician comments every time we go what an unusually active baby he is. Oh goody. Wait til he starts crawling. Speaking of which, I think he's getting close. Within the past the week he's been trying to get his knees up under him when he's on his belly. Honestly though, what's more adorable than a baby crawling all over the place?

Well, I wanted to share some of our favorite photos of Tennyson from birth til now. It's incredible how quickly time passes, but these fleeting moments will stay with us forever.

And in honor of National Sanctity of Human Life Day I want to express how important it is that we protect these innocent and precious lives. The unborn have no voice, but we can be their voice. I truly believe God holds all 44+ million aborted babies is His hands. May He bring peace to the mothers and fathers seeking forgiveness.

What a miracle new life is.....

7.31.07


He still sleeps in this same pose every night.

8.27.07


Thank goodness for fast cameras! (Tom said this is a photo to bring up at his graduation.)

9.3.07


Who's the cutest baby? That's me!

9.26.07


This was right after he finished eating...and then he curled his lip like Elvis. I don't know what that means.

10.21.07


My child, to me you are perfect.

10.24.07


One of the last photos we have before he lost his dark hair.

11.10.07


On the way to get a Christmas tree. I love that face!

12.1.07


Bathtime.......






That smile melts my heart every time. I think it always will.

1.9.07


This was taken yesterday. Awww, what a cute face!

Snow Days

Ahhh, the blessed event of snow. How beautiful and how wonderful that it got Daddy two days off from work. Tennyson was fascinated to see the flakes floating down to Earth. And how did we spend this cold, snowy day? Lots of sleeping and spending quiet time as a family.

The view out our back door.....

As you can see we got almost 6 inches at last count.

Daddy also spent some time flying his little man high up over his head. They had so much fun doing it!

Finally joining the ranks...

Well, after welcoming Tennyson Harper into our lives 5 1/2 months ago we have finally started a blog so friends and family can stay up-to-date with what's going on in our lives. We (and when I say "we" I mean Brittany) have been wanting to do this since before his birth, but...well....Tennyson was too impatient and came a month early.

We couldn't possibly catch up from the moment of his birth (a story I shall post later) to now, so we'll start by sharing some pictures from his first Christmas. Tennyson got to meet some more relatives that had only heard about him and his utter adorableness. So for all our friends and relatives in various states and locally enjoy the Bates Family Blog.

Here Tennyson is getting ready to go to a Christmas concert at the school where Daddy teaches.

As you can tell,Tennyson enjoyed his first Christmas! He is such a happy baby, when he's feed, changed, and well-rested.

Tennyson also got to meet his great-grandmother for the first time. What a blessing that was for everyone! She lives on the Poquoson River in Yorktown, and though it was too cold to take the little guy out on the pier, many memories were conjured up from my (Brittany's) childhood, as they always are when I go back.